Pathology Student Interest Group

Sponsored by the College of American Pathologists

Pathology

Right Now, A Pathologist Somewhere Is….

…Evaluating Surgical Specimens

• Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer• Adequacy of Resection • Detection of Occult Disease• Diagnosis of Infectious Disease

Biopsy Specimens, Requisition sheets, Histology Cassettes

Grossing Station

Gross Specimen: Inked Breast Biopsy

Gross Specimen: Testis

Gross Specimen: Liver

Preparation of Histologic

Sections

Histotechnologist

Stained Histologic Sections and Gross Reports

Histopathology Diagnosis and Teaching

Invasive Breast Carcinoma

Hepatic Steatosis

Immunohistochemistry

Hematoxylin and Eosin

Lymph Node:Examination for Metastasis

Higher Power: Sinus Histiocytosis

Immunohistochemistry Positive: Metastatic Lobular Breast Carcinoma

…Performing Intraoperative Consultations

• Frozen Sections• Touch Preps• Gross Examinations• Fine Needle Aspirations• Evaluate Organs for Transplant

Gross Specimen

Bronchus

Tumor Lung

Intraoperative Histologic Diagnosis

Tumor Approaching Bronchial Epithelium

…Evaluating Cytology Specimens

• Pap Smears and Body Fluids• Fine Needle Aspirations• Imprint Preparations• Sperm Identification• Stat Interpretations

Seminoma FNA

PAP Smear with Herpes

…Performing Autopsies• Confirm Clinical Impressions• Determine Cause of Death• Identify Hereditary Conditions• Diagnose Diseases• Educate

Autopsy Case Review

…Practicing Forensics• Cause and Manner of Death• Crime/Death Scene Investigation• Evidence Procurement• Courtroom Testimony

…Managing the Laboratory

QA, QI, QC:Insuring the Quality of

Patient Care

…Interpreting Challenging Peripheral Blood Smears

• Leukemia• Anemia• Malaria• Lead

Poisoning

Peripheral Blood Smear: Leukemia

…Performing and Interpreting Bone Marrow Biopsies

• Morphology• Flow Cytometry• Clinical Correlation• Molecular Studies• Treatment

Bone Marrow Aspirate and Biopsy

Bone Marrow Specimen

Preparation of slides at bedside

…Evaluating Patients with Bleeding/Clotting Disorders

• Recommend Laboratory Tests• Interpret and Correlate Results • Recommend Treatment

…Evaluating Lymph Nodes

• Morphology• Flow Cytometry• Immunohistochemistry• Molecular Studies

…Performing Hemotherapy

• Plasmapheresis• Leukopheresis• Red Cell Exchange• Stem Cell Harvesting

…Interacting with Clinicians

“Doctor’s Doctor”

…Isolating Infectious Diseases• Chemotherapy Patients• AIDS Patients• Transplant Patients

Acid Fast Organisms

…Coordinating Transfusions• Transfusion Reactions• Blood Utilization and Donation• Rare Blood Type Identification• Trauma Patients

…Applying Molecular Pathology• Cancer and Oncogenes• Karyotyping for Genetic Defects• DNA Fingerprinting

Trisomy 21

…Teaching

• Clinicians• Laboratory Personnel• Residents• Medical/Dental Students• Lay Community

Small Group Teaching

…Learning

• Books• Case Material• Colleagues• Conferences• National Meetings (CAP)

…Researching and Publishing

Basic Science

Clinical Science

Case Reports and Series

Poster at National Meeting

…Developing Leadership Skills

• Medical Administration• Legislative Agendas• Grassroots Advocacy• Local, State, and National

Medical Societies

Areas in Pathology

• Cytopathology• Neuropathology• Forensic Pathology• Dermatopathology• Hematopathology• Molecular Pathology• Pediatric Pathology

• Oral Pathology• Blood Bank/

Transfusion Medicine

• Informatics• Chemical Pathology• Medical

Microbiology

Lifestyle Issues

• Hours• Limited On-Call Time• Improving Job Market• Above Average Income• Private Practice vs. Academics

Why is Pathology Important to the Clinician?

• Understand And Treat Disease • 70% of data in patient charts is from the

pathology laboratory• “Doctor’s Doctor”• Pathology Is On Many Specialty

Boards….

Pathology in Medical School

Medical Students do NOTformally rotate through the

Pathology Service unless they choose to do an Elective!

Opportunities

• Review your Patient’s Pathology with a Pathologist or Resident• Shadow a Pathologist or Resident• Take an Elective Rotation• Attend Various

Clinicopathological Conferences

Right Now a Pathologist is Practicing Medicine,

Making a Difference, and Striving for Excellence!